Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the western Canary Islands. The port sits in the centre of town, so the main streets and squares are a short walk from the ship. The Auditorio de Tenerife, a white wave-shaped concert hall by Santiago Calatrava, is the most recognisable building on the waterfront. Parque García Sanabria, a few blocks inland, has sculpture and subtropical plants. The city's Carnival, held in February, is one of the largest in the world after Rio. The Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología has Guanche mummies and artifacts from the island's pre-Spanish inhabitants. Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak and a UNESCO site, is about an hour's drive from the port and can be reached by cable car near the summit. Canarian food to try: papas arrugadas with mojo sauce, and fresh grilled fish. The euro is the currency, and Spanish is the language.